Abbott orders Turnbull to demolish NBN

Tony Abbott has ordered Malcolm Turnbull to "demolish" the Government's National Broadband Network (NBN) as he today brought him back to the Coalition frontbench to head up its communications portfolio.

Mr Turnbull makes his high-profile return to the shadow ministry nine months after he was dumped as Liberal leader and replaced by Mr Abbott.

Declaring the NBN would be the "absolute focus" of the political battle of the next 18 months, Mr Abbott said he could think of no better person to "ferociously" hold the Government to account on the issue.

"The Government is going to invest $43 billion worth of hard-earned money in what I believe is going to turn out to be a white elephant on a massive scale," Mr Abbott said.

"I've already described it as school halls on steroids, and we can be certain the NBN will be to this term of government what pink batts and school halls were to the last term of government."

Mr Turnbull replaces Tony Smith as communications spokesman and will bring his experience as the former chair of internet service provider OzEmail to the job as he argues against the NBN.

Mr Abbott has avoided making major changes to other senior positions, with Joe Hockey to stay in treasury, Andrew Robb in finance and Julie Bishop in foreign affairs.

Christopher Pyne will also remain in education, Greg Hunt in climate change, Warren Truss in infrastructure, Eric Abetz in workplace relations and Barnaby Joyce in regional development and water.

Scott Morrison takes on the responsibilities of productivity and population as well as immigration.

"It is a strong and experienced team that will hold a weak and incompetent government to account," Mr Abbott said.

"I'm very happy to be announcing this team, this good blend of stability and renewal."

Mathias Cormann moves from employment participation to assistant treasurer, financial services and superannuation, while Stuart Robert takes on the role of defence science and personnel.

Winners include Mitch Fifield in the disabilities portfolio and Brett Mason in universities and research, as well as promotions for Fiona Nash, Michaelia Cash, newly elected Teresa Gambaro, Andrew Laming, Scott Ryan and Darren Chester.

Steven Ciobo and Sharman Stone have lost their responsibilities, while Mr Smith becomes parliamentary secretary for tax reform.

Alex Somlyay has also been replaced by Warren Entsch as whip.

"Politics is a tough business and inevitably one person's elation is someone else's disappointment," Mr Abbott said.

"[It] doesn't mean that that person has done a bad job, not at all.

"It just means there is something of the quality of snakes and ladders about the business of politics. It always has been a bit like that; always will be a bit like that."

Mr Abbott said the Government would face an Opposition during Question Time that was "hungry" to hold it to account.

"I have to say that I'm confident that you will find that this is a shadow ministry which lasts," he said.

"The minority Government lost its way, lost its majority and now has lost its mandate.

"It's still in government but it's only just in government, and so our task as a Coalition is to be an even more formidable Opposition in the coming term than we were in the last term."